IQM Flagship School Award
Find out about the Flagship School Award, the benefits and the criteria for accreditation.
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What is the Flagship School Award?
The Flagship School Award is the pinnacle of the IQM Award programme (except for National Inclusion Champion recognition).
It celebrates schools that not only model inclusion within schools but actively influence the broader educational landscape through innovation, research, and sharing best practices.
Schools at this level demonstrate sustained excellence in inclusive teaching, actively contribute to national discussions on education, and act as hubs of inspiration for others seeking inclusion awards for schools. This award acknowledges that inclusion is deeply embedded in ethos, strategy, and classroom practice.
How do you achieve IQM Flagship School Award?
Schools can be considered for Flagship School Award after successfully maintaining Centre of Excellence status for three consecutive years.
To achieve this prestigious recognition, schools must demonstrate a track record of inclusive teaching that impacts not only their own pupils but also influences inclusion practice.
The process includes evidence of leadership in developing inclusion within schools, active participation in cluster networks, and contributions to wider sector initiatives on inclusion awards and innovation in inclusive learning.
How long does the Flagship School Award last for?
The Flagship School Award is reviewed annually to ensure that schools maintain the exceptional standards required. This renewal process focuses on continuous improvement, leadership in inclusive teaching, and innovation in inclusion within schools.
Schools are expected to contribute actively to national inclusion dialogues, participate in collaborative projects, and share expertise with other schools pursuing inclusion awards for schools.
For many schools, holding Flagship status represents the culmination of years of consistent, high-impact inclusion work. Schools are encouraged to use their expertise to mentor others, contribute to sector-wide research, and model best practice.
The yearly review helps ensure that the award remains dynamic, reflecting the evolving nature of inclusive education.
IQM Cluster Groups
Cluster groups are a key feature of the Centre of Excellence and Flagship School Status, providing schools with opportunities to network, share good practice, and take part in joint CPD on inclusion both in-person and online.
These collaborative groups enable leaders, SENDCos, and teachers to refine inclusive teaching strategies and strengthen CPD for SENDCos through shared expertise.
IQM Flagship School Criteria
- A school that has held Centre of Excellence for at least three years prior to attaining Flagship status for the first time.
- Agrees to produce an annual written update of progress against the identified project outline as the basis for the annual review.
- Be willing to be an active member of an IQM cluster group of COE and Flagship Schools.
- Attendance at IQM Cluster meetings is a prerequisite to maintaining Flagship Status.
- Willing to engage in classroom level research activity that explores inclusive practice.
- Has, or is able to develop, the capacity to share and disseminate good inclusion practice across a broader cluster of schools.
- Share practice/staff/visits/training.
- Committed to sustaining the IQM ethos through collaborative activities.
- Be willing and able to support other schools to become IQM schools or Centres of Excellence.
- Prepared to contribute to the overall development aims of IQM, supporting the need for expertise or trialling practice.
Flagship School Award Pricing
1-400 Students years 1, 2 and 3 £1,075 /yr
400-200 Students years 1, 2 and 3 £1,175 /yr
* Please note pricing is excluding expenses and VAT
Subject to change
Inclusive School Award must already be held to progress to Centre of Excellence and beyond.
Process
The application for the Flagship School Award is a tailored process, designed to recognise the exceptional standards achieved by these schools.
Evaluative Framework
All Flagship assessments are conducted against IQM's trusted, natinoally recognised framework to ensure consistency and credibility.
What are the benefits of the Flagship School Award for schools?
The Flagship School Award is more than a recognition. It’s an ongoing opportunity to shape the future of inclusive education.
Schools holding this award are seen as sector leaders in inclusion within schools and inclusive teaching, trusted to mentor others and influence policy and practice. The award opens the door to collaborative research opportunities, enabling schools to contribute to the national and international understanding of effective inclusion awards for schools.
One of the major benefits is the involvement in IQM’s advanced cluster network. These exclusive groups provide a platform for schools to not only share their expertise but also collaborate on classroom-based research, present at conferences, and develop innovative approaches to inclusive teaching. This ensures schools remain at the forefront of pedagogical development and policy shifts.
The IQM Award framework ensures a rigorous approach, giving parents, governors, and inspectors confidence that the school’s inclusion award status is evidence-based. The Flagship level requires schools to actively contribute to the profession, engaging in initiatives that influence not only their own community but the wider educational sector.
For leaders, the Flagship School Award offers unparalleled opportunities to refine strategic approaches to inclusion within schools, influence sector-wide training, and shape thinking on equity and diversity in education. For teachers and SENDCos, it provides structured opportunities for professional growth, enabling them to lead inclusive teaching projects and share innovations with peers.
IQM Flagship Schools are also invited to take part in educational research studies, giving them a voice in shaping the future direction of inclusion in education. By holding the Flagship School Award, schools demonstrate that they are not only champions of inclusion in their own classrooms but also catalysts for change across the sector.
In essence, the IQM Flagship School Award solidifies a school’s place as a thought leader in inclusion, maximising the benefits of cluster networks, research collaboration, and sustained recognition as a beacon of excellence in inclusion awards for schools.
School Stories
Take a look at some of our recent IQM-accredited schools and their journey towards achieving and sustaining excellence in inclusion.
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FAQs
A nationally and internationally recognised accreditation that celebrates and supports outstanding inclusive practice in schools.
The average time for schools to complete the award is two terms, though timescales vary depending on readiness and chosen award level.
Yes - we work with schools in the UAE, Europe, and beyond, adapting our assessments to different curricula and cultural contexts.
Pricing information can be found on each award page. The cost of a school's registration is £299.50 + VAT. This is renewed every 3 years. The cost for Flagship and Centre of Excellence are UK prices.
No - while SEND is a core focus, IQM covers all aspects of inclusion, from diversity and equity to staff culture and community engagement.
About IQM
The only national award for inclusion in the UK, IQM has been committed to recognising exemplary inclusive schools for over 20 years and in over 20 countries around the world. The three awards allow schools and organisations to dcelebrate their inclusive practice against nationally recognised framework.
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